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Genitourinary Functioning and Depressive Symptoms Over Time In Younger Versus Older Men Treated for Prostate Cancer

  • Original Article
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Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background/Purpose

This study examined the relation of age to genitourinary functioning and depressive symptoms over time and examined how age influences the relation between genitourinary functioning and depressive symptoms over time in men treated for localized prostate cancer.

Methods

Participants were 234 men who completed interviews that assessed genitourinary functioning and depressive symptoms at 2, 4, 10 and 16 months after treatment. Analyses were statistically controlled for potential confounds.

Results

Compared with younger men (≤65.5), older men had significantly poorer sexual function and slower improvement. Level of urinary functioning was inversely associated with level of depressive symptoms regardless of age. Level of sexual functioning was inversely associated with level of depressive symptoms but only in younger men.

Conclusion

Interventions may be particularly helpful for all men with urinary dysfunction and for younger men with sexual dysfunction in order to improve symptoms of depression.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grant CA68354. We are grateful to the clinicians and patients who participated in this study, the research staff and consultants, and Thomas Blank for his comments on an earlier draft.

Conflict of Interest

None

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College Columbia University, Box 114, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    Katherine J. Roberts Ed.D., M.P.H.

  2. Temple University, 1801 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Stephen J. Lepore Ph.D.

  3. University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-2612, USA

    Alexandra L. Hanlon Ph.D.

  4. Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Vicki Helgeson Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Katherine J. Roberts Ed.D., M.P.H.
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  2. Stephen J. Lepore Ph.D.
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  3. Alexandra L. Hanlon Ph.D.
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  4. Vicki Helgeson Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine J. Roberts Ed.D., M.P.H..

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Roberts, K.J., Lepore, S.J., Hanlon, A.L. et al. Genitourinary Functioning and Depressive Symptoms Over Time In Younger Versus Older Men Treated for Prostate Cancer. ann. behav. med. 40, 275–283 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9214-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9214-4

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